Abstract:

The goal of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a marital systems approach to the treatment of women with self-referred premenstrual syndrome. The first purpose of the study was to identify any significant differences on the Global Distress Scale of the Marital Satisfaction Inventory and the Causal Dimension Scale between (PMS+) and (PMS-) married couples before and after marital treatment. The second purpose of the study was to determine any significant differences on dependent measures of averaged marital ratings between (PMS+) and (PMS-) wives during thecycle ratings between (PMS+) and (PMS-) wives.Nine married couples participated in a group comparison study through Community Hospitals of Indianapolis, Indiana. The study was conducted in two phases, including a three month assessment phase followed by a two month treatment phase. Four married couples whose wives met the DSM-III-R's diagnostic criteria for Late Luteal Phase Dysphoric Disorder were included in the (PMS+) group. Five married couples whose wives did not meet the diagnostic criteria for LLPDD were included in the (PMS-) comparison group.Statistical analyses revealed significant time effects; assessment and treatment purpose of the study was differences on dependent phase of the study. The third to identify any significant measures of averaged menstrual no three-way or two-way interactive effects for any of the three hypotheses. The results clinically support the notion of treating marriages with PMS versus solely treating women with PMS. Regardless of whether wives prospectively confirmed premenstrual symptoms, treatment involving the marriage impacted menstrual cycle symptom ratings and perceptions of the marriage positively.